Coin handling apparatus



Nov. 4, 1958 I A. G. ATWELL 2,853,658

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A T TORNEYS Nov. 4, 1958 A. e. ATWELL 2,858,658

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United States Patent This invention relates to a coin handling apparatus for counting and packaging coins and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus ice hingedly secured to the upper end portions of supports 13 'as at 17 so that the board may be manually rocked about a horizontal axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the base. The coin board 15 is of generally triangular shape in plan having opposite longitudinal side walls 20, 21 and end walls 18, 19. Thus, any coin deposited on the board will be confined within the boundary of the four walls. board, the side wall 20 will be referred to as the front wall. Referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that in the relation shown the front or now lower side extends parallel to the base 12, and the rear or new upper side wall 21 extends on a slant towards the right end of the base.

of the above type which will be of a simple construction and accurate in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above type which will be economical to manufacture and durable in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above character wherein a coin wrapper holder is arranged to co-operate with the coin wrapper in a manner to assure accurate positioning of the first coin inserted into the wrapper.

be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the apparatus embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the upper portion of Figure 2 drawn on a larger scale and showing certain parts thereof in different relation;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 66 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 77 of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the lower portion of the coin wrapper holder shown in Figure 5; and

Figure 9 is a plan view of a clip for use in the apparatus of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the invention, 10 designates a coin handling apparatus having a rectangular flat base 11 which is adapted to rest upon a flat surface, as for example, a table top. The periphery of the base is provided with upstanding flanges or walls 12 (Figure 2) whichextend completely about the four sides of the base. A pair of similar bearing supports 13 are secured to the base and project vertically therefrom and are spaced in the longitudinal direction of the base. These are preferably made of sheet material cut and bent into proper form. A tie rod 14 extends between the vertical portions of the support and is secured thereto.

A coin board 15 has a pair of lugs 16 projecting downars t t m th un d sfit bea d. anrtthss ar There is formed at the marginal upper edge of the board a longitudinal recess 22, the sides of which extend parallel to the said side wall 21. The recess 22 extends from the end wall 18 to the outer side of end wall 19 and is joined in an appropriate manner with a recess 23 which extends therefrom on a downward curvature. The recess 23 is formed as an extension of the board proper. These two recesses 22, 23 have their guiding surfaces eX- tending in continuation ofeach other and are of a depth adapted to receive the coins flatwise in an edge to edge relation between the inner side wall 22' of the recess and the wall 21, forming a coin track designated 24. A lip 25 (Figure 2) extends along the front side of wall 20 and forms a trough-like enclosure 26 in which coins deposited on the coin board may lodge at certain relative positions of the coin board as will hereinafter appear.

A tubular holder 27 is secured to the base 11 as at 28 (see Figures 1 and 5) at a position to be in line with the delivery end 23 of track 24. The holder 27 is adapted to receive and hold a tubular paper coin wrapper 29 in a vertical position in line with the said delivery end 23. The coin wrapper (see Figures 5 and 8) is open at both ends, one end of which has an annular ledge or shoulder 29' which is formed by turning the marginal edge of the wrapper inwardly upon itself. This provides a closure shoulder against which the first insertedcoin engages. As will be apparent (see Figure 5), the coins enter the wrapper edgewise and there is a liability of the coins lodging against the shoulder to engage therewith in such a manner as to prevent flipping in face contact with said shoulder. In order to prevent such engagement, the bottom of the holder is counterbored to provide a raised portion 27' (see Figure 8) surrounded by an annular groove 27". In inserting the wrapper in the holder, the inturned end will rest in the groove 27" and the raised portion 27' will extend within the wrapper a distance above shoulder 29' sufiicient to prevent the first inserted coin from engaging in but a flat condition with said shoulder 29'. The coin falling edgewise and having but a single point engagement with the raised portion will be unbalanced and flip itself over in flat relation with said shoulder 29'. V

The effective working length of the track 24 is made of a length to hold greater than a predetermined number of coins in edge to edge relation. As by way of example, the coin board will be described as arranged for handling pen'nies, five cent pieces, or ten cent pieces. At the delivery end portion of the track a movable abutment 30 (see Figure 6) in the form of a pin 31 having an enlarged head portion 32 which is slotted as at 33 is slidably received in a bushed opening 34' in the board 15 to project into the recess portion 22 a distan'ce to obstruct the paston 35 and at the other end thereof with an enlarged slotted head 36 which is reduced inwardly as at 37. A compression spring 38 encircles the pin 34 and is an For the sake of clarity in describing the coin ranged with one end engaging against the rear of front wall 20 and the other end thereof engaging against the shoulder formed by the reduced portion 37. A lever 39 is pivotally mountedon a support 4%) as at 41, and the slottedterminal ends thereof are pivotally connected to the enlarged heads 32, 36 as at 42 and 43, respectively. It will be apparent from the above and referring to Fig ure 6 that a pulling force applied to button 35 will rock lever 39 about pivot 41 to withdraw pin 31 to clear the track 24 for coins to travel along the track and upon release of the button 35 the bias of spring 38 will swing the lever 39 in the other direction to return pin 33 to project into track 24 and block the movement of coins therealong.

A second abutment 44 (see Figures 2 and 4) is arranged along track 24 at a location thereon spaced from abutment 30 a distance equal to a predetermined number of coins positioned edge to edge on track 24, as by way of example twenty five-cent pieces designated F. C. The abutment 40 is in the form of a pin 45 (Figure 4) having a slotted enlarged head 46 and is slidably received in a bushed opening 47 to project into the track and is provided with a crosswise slot 48 which is of a width slightly more than the thickness of the coin. The pin normally projects into the track until the shoulder of its head engages the board 15, in which position the slot 48 will be so located that coins traveling on the track will pass through the slot in sliding or rolling down the track. A lever 49 which is pivoted as at 40 (Figure 2) is pivotally connected at one end thereof to the abutment 44, and its other end extends into engagement with a compression spring ST-urging the lever 4 to swing in a counter-clockwisedirection as seen in Figure 2 to move the pin through the slot to register the slot 48 with the path of travel of the coins. Mounted on the base 11 is a bracket 52 in which there is a'djustably received an abutment 53 in the form of a headed screw. Rocking the coin board about pivot 17 in a counter-clockwise direction a sufficient distance will move the end of lever 49 to engage abutment '3 and be moved thereby to swing the other end thereof in a clockwise direction to withdraw abutment 44 and move slot 4% out of register with the path of travel of coins and position the unslotted portion of the pin 45 in coin obstructing position. Upon release of the coin board, the bias of spring 51 will return lever 49 and abutment 44 to normal position. There are three of the above described second abutments. These are similar and similarly operated. There is an abutment 44' spaced from the abutment 3%) a distance equal to an edge to edgespacing of a predeterminednumber often-cent pieces. There is an abutment 4-4" spaced from the abutment 3b a distance equal to an edge to edge spacing of a' predetermined number of pennies. Any of the abutments 44 are held in inoperative position (see Figure 7) b y means of a clip 54 which is inserted over the pin 45 to engage between the board 14 and the enlarged head 46 of the abutment.

In the operation of the apparatus the coin board may be held in a horizontal position and in which the coins, as for example five-cent pieces, may be deposited. The board may now be oscillated back and forth about the pivots 17 from the horizontal to cause the coins to slidealong the board to lodge and fill the recess, or nearly so, with coins in an edge to edge relation. Upon the track being filled with a sutficient number of coins, the board may be swung to the inclined position shown in Figure 2 with the end of lever 49 engaging against abutment 53. This will slant the board 15 at an angle of aboutfifteen degrees'to retain the coins on the track 24. During the above described movement of the board, the coins on the track will roll to an edge to edge relation against abutment 30. Referring to Figure 1; it will be seen that pin or abutment 44 is at a position between the upper edges of two adjacent coins and may be moved without disturbing said two coins. The operator now may push on the lower side 20 of the board to move the lever 49 against the abutment 53 and further movement of the board in the same direction will apply a force on the end of lever 49 to swing the same in a direction to withdraw the slot 48 from register with the path of travel of coin indicated 57 and position the outer end of the abutment 44 in the path of travel of said coin 57. A limit adjustable stop 55 (see Figure 3) projecting from a bracket 56 is engaged by the now lower rear edge of the board 15 and to limit the swing of the board toward the vertical. While still holding the lever 49 in a position to withdraw pin 45, the release pin 34 is pulled by means of knob 35 to move pin 31 out of recess 22 and free the coins to roll down the track 24 to fall into a paper tube Wrapper 29 previously positioned in holder 27. The pin 31 is now released, and the board may be again oscillated to refill track 24 with coins to again repeat the operation above described.

It will be understoodand apparent that when dimes are to be countedand packaged, the abutment and 4-4" will be held in an inoperative condition and the dime abutment 44 released to be placed in operative position. In a like manner when operating with pennies, the penny abutment 44 will be released to be in operative position and the other abutments 44, 44 retracted and held in inoperative position.

It will be apparent from the above description and with reference to the drawings that I have disclosed an apparatus which is extremely simple, free or" any complicated mechanism, and thus free of usual servicing for maintaining it in order. it will be also apparent that the simple structure provides for economical manufacture so as to permit selling at a cost within the reach of many potential users wherein the period of use of such coin handling apparatus does not warrant the investment of the price of the more elaborate coin handling machines.

I claim:

1. A coin handling apparatus comprising a coin board adapted to have coins deposited thereon, said board having a track rigid therewith adapted to receive coins thereon in an edge relation, means for rockably mounting said board and track about a horizontal axis whereby said board and track may be moved about said axis to incline said board for coins deposited thereon to move onto said track, said track being at an acute angle to said axis whereby when said board is moved to a generally upright position, said track is inclined for coins lodged thereon to roll axially along said track thereby varying their distance from said axis.

2. A coin handling apparatus comprising a coin board adapted to have coins deposited thereon, said board having a track adapted to receive coins thereon in an edge to edge relation, a holder for holding a tubular coin Wrapper, means for rockably mounting said board about a horizontal axis, said track being at an angle to said axis, whereby said board may be moved about said axis to position said track at a location lower than said axis for coins deposited on said board to slide therefrom onto said track, and may subsequently be moved about said axis to position said track about said axis to incline said track for the coins iodged thereon to roll from said track into a coin wrapper held in said holder.

3. A coin handling apparatus according to claim 2 and an abutment against which said board engages to limit the rocking movement of said board toward vertical position.

4. A coin handling apparatus comprising a coin board mounted for rocking movement about a horizontal axis, said coin board having a longitudinal recess extending from adjacent one end thereof'to the other end thereof and extending on a slant converging toward said axis, said board being rockable about said axis to position said recess at a location below said axis and rock-able to position said recess above said axis.

5. A coin handling apparatus comprising a coin board adapted to have coins deposited thereon, said board having a track adapted to receive coins thereon in an edge to edge relation, means for rockably mounting said board about a horizontal axis whereby said board may be moved about said axis to incline said board for coins deposited thereon to move onto said track, said track being at an angle to said axis whereby when said board is moved to a generally upright position, said track is inclined for coins lodged thereon to roll along said track, said track being of a length to receive a number of coins greater than a predetermined number of coins, and means spaced from the delivery end of said track for blocking all but said predetermined number of coins from rolling ofi said 7 track.

6. A coin handling apparatus comprising a coin board adapted to have coins deposited thereon, said board having a track adapted to receive coins thereon in an edge to edge relation, means for rockably mounting said board about a horizontal axis whereby said board may be moved about said axis to incline said board for coins deposited thereon to move onto said track, said track being at an angle to said axis whereby when said board is moved to a generally upright position, said track is inclined for coins lodged thereon to roll along said track, a slidable abutment normally projecting into said track at the delivery end thereof, a second abutment slidably mounted for movement into coin blocking relation in said track, said second abutment being spaced from the first said abutment a distance equal to a predetermined number of coins extending edge to edge along said track, means for moving the said second abutment in coin blocking relation for blocking the movement of coins on said track at the rear of said second abutment, a stop, and second means coupled to said first abutment and operable for moving said first abutment out of coin blocking relation, said second means being carried by said board and moved thereby against said stop to be operated thereby upon said board being moved to said generally upright position.

7. A coin handling apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said second means is a pivoted lever having one 4 arm thereof coupled to said first abutment and the other arm thereof extending in line with said stop.

8. A coin handling apparatus having a track adapted to receive coins thereon in an edge to edge relation, means mounting said track for movement to incline the same at an angle to the horizontal for coins deposited thereon to roll along said track, a cylindrical body extending into said track and having a slot extending crosswise thereof through which coins are adapted to pass, means mounting said body for axial movement to position said slot into and out of line with the path of the coins along said track, whereby to block or to allow coins at the rear of said body to roll past the same.

9. A coin handling apparatus comprising a coin board adapted to have coins deposited thereon, said board having a track adapted to receive coins thereon in an edge to edge relation, means for rockably mounting said board about a horizontal axis whereby said board may be moved about said axis to incline said board for coins deposited thereon to move onto said track, said track being at an angle to said axis and positioned at one longitudinal marginal edge of said board and said axis extending intermediate between said track and opposite side edge of said board whereby when said board is moved to a generally upright position, said track is inclined for coins lodged thereon to roll along said track.

10. A coin handling apparatus comprising a coin board adapted to have coins deposited thereon, said board having a track adapted to receive coins thereon in an edge to edge relation, means for rockably mounting said board about a horizontal axis whereby said board may be moved about said axis to incline said board for coins deposited thereon to move onto said track, said track being a recess extending inwardly from the front side of said board to a depth adapted to receive coins fiatwise in said edge to edge relation whereby when said board is moved to a generally upright position, said track is inclined for coins lodged thereon to roll along said track.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 715,247 Davis Dec. 9, 1902 1,919,963 Smith July 25, 1933 2,444,804 Carruthers July 6, 1948 2,656,962 Daniels Oct. 27, 1953 

